“Seek and ye shall find” is a dud when it comes to food. That’s why I found
Hyper Local has an interesting combination of sober and whimsical decor. Lights, none too bright, but also didn’t make me wish for a flashlight to read the menu; comfortable seats; music, an acquired taste (more on that later). The restaurant is spread over three floors, has an outdoor seating, a smoking zone in each floor, a decent space for open mic-nights and live band performances, and live sport screenings.
But it was food that brought me here. The menu is largely Continental, with Indian element thrown here and there. You can give teen mirch ka paneer tikka a miss, you won’t miss much. Murgh kesar kasturi kebab, on the other hand, was quite good. Chicken morsels prepared with saffron, curd and dried fenugreek was tender and the smoky flavour gave the dish a lot of character. Speaking of Indian, Egg Kejriwal Toast caught my attention. Jumbo toast with a generous spread of creamed mushroom and sunny side up egg, a side of crispy potato wedges and fresh salad, the dish became an instant favourite. Made me wonder, why the name?
All these food and nothing to wash it down with? I went ‘Local’, as in Locally Smoked—a drink of smoked bourbon served with rose, pomegranate and orange infused ice-cubes and star anise for that extra earthy flavour. Not a fan of alcohol? Hyper Local has a decent mocktail selection; go for their Zing Slush—a slushie of mango, strawberry and lime, with a hint of tobasco; and Summer Hue—a cool lemonade drink with orange, mint and pomegranate.
Chef Jiten Singh worked wonders with Chicken Money Bag—chicken packed in crunchy spring roll skin with a touch of chives. These little parcels of meat packed a very well balanced taste inside that deliciously crunchy shell. English baked stuffed potato skin was good but easily forgettable. I tried the ones with curried rice stuffing; maybe the ones with American corn or chicken stuffing would have been more interesting. Something for my next visit perhaps.
For my main course, Chef recommended I go for B’stilla, a baked filo pie with a stuffing of spinach and feta cheese on a bed of cinnamon infused tomato sauce. This vegetarian fare was good; very heavy on the stuffing and the pie crust quite crispy. Goat Rendang Curry, the non-veg fare, came with Malasian paranthas (influenced by our own lachha paratha). The goat shank could have been more tender, but a great dish nonetheless.
Hyper Local is great for a casual get-together. It may appear to be a bit on the expensive side, but they do serve good quantity. The lounge music can be taken down a notch without a doubt.
The Information
Where: C-5, Main Market, SDA
Cost: ₹1500 for two with alcohol, exclusive of taxes
Contact: 01133106075
New Delhi
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